Venezuela: Urgent humanitarian needs after the earthquake
Volunteers search for missing people in the ruins after the powerful earthquakes in Caraballeda. The death toll is rising, and many people remain missing.
The need for assistance in Venezuela is acute in the days following the earthquakes. Even before the disaster, the country was facing widespread hardship. Norway is allocating NOK 20 million to the UN and the Red Cross, and is also supporting humanitarian organisations present in the country.
Venezuela was struck by two very powerful earthquakes Wednesday night. According to official figures, more than 1,700 people have so far been confirmed dead, while around 5,000 people have been injured and approximately 15,000 are homeless, according to official figures. 70,000 people are missing, the UN reports.
To strengthen the immediate response, Norway is releasing NOK 20 million from its humanitarian reserve:
- NOK 10 million to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
- NOK 10 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
UNHCR is a key actor for refugees, migrants, returnees and other vulnerable groups in the earthquake-affected areas, with a particular focus on safety, registration and access to basic services.
IFRC provides direct support to the Venezuelan Red Cross. It aims to assist 300,000 people affected in various ways. The funding will support immediate life-saving assistance and enable scaling up as needs are assessed.
– In Venezuela, we clearly see how important it is that Norway works long-term and remains flexible as a donor, allowing us to increase support in acute crises. The emergency funds of the International Red Cross and the UN, core support and flexible funding to our partners, ensure that assistance can be delivered from day one. Funding from the humanitarian reserve provides an additional boost when needs are as extensive as they are now, says Martin Samuelsen, Head of the section for Humanitarian Assistance at Norad.
Martin Samuelsen is Head of the section for Humanitarian Assistance at Norad.
The earthquake’s epicentre was located approximately 170 km west of Caracas. The worst affected areas are the port city of La Guaira, parts of the capital Caracas, and surrounding regions.
– This disaster has struck a country already facing a deep humanitarian crisis, with fragile health services, widespread poverty and political instability. These conditions make rescue efforts and coordination extremely challenging. Norway is contributing through the UN's and the International Red Cross' humanitarian emergency funds, says Norad Director General Gunn Jorid Roset.
The UN emergency fund CERF has so far released almost NOK 150 million, while the Red Cross emergency fund DREF has allocated NOK 24 million to date. Norway is among the largest donors to these funds, which are designed to deliver rapid assistance.
– When disasters strike, it is essential that aid can be delivered quickly. That is why international emergency funds are an important instrument in Norwegian humanitarian efforts, says Gunn Jorid Roset.
Norad Director General Gunn Jorid Roset.
Norway also supports organisations including Save the Children Norway, Caritas and the Norwegian Refugee Council, all of which are working in Venezuela. These partners are providing protection, education in emergencies, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), food assistance and cash support in vulnerable communities. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is allocating NOK 10 million from its flexible funding to support the response to the earthquake disaster in Venezuela.
Hospitals in Venezuela are already severely strained, with patients also being treated outdoors and in field hospitals.
28 June: Desperate search for survivors in the ruins of Caraballeda.
The most urgent needs are shelter, food and other essential relief items, clean water, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), healthcare, trauma care, and mental health and psychosocial support.
Before the earthquakes, nearly 8 million people in Venezuela were already in need of humanitarian assistance. Only around 20 per cent of the UN Humanitarian Response Plan for 2025 was funded, while the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan is currently only around 23 per cent funded.